The second of a series looking at the stories behind some Christmas Carols, this one is Silent Night.
This is such a famous story that there is a book The story of Silent Night. by Gallico, Paul (abebooks.co.uk) It tells the story that on Christmas Eve in 1818 Jospeh Mohr’s poem and Franz Gruber’s melody were brought together as both men sang it at Christmas Mass to the accompaniment of a guitar.
There have been various theories as to why the church organ was not used, that the organ was broken or mice had eaten the bellows, but probably there is no mystery as the guitar was often used in church.
Its reception was initially less than enthusiastic but within a short space of time it was widely sung throughout Germany and abroad, usually in the original German language. In 1863 it was translated into English.
It was written in 1816 not long after the end of the Napoleonic wars. It was also a time of famine. The story is that the priest, Joseph Mohr went for a walk before he wrote it, and he looked out over a very quiet, winter-laden town.
Today when we think of Silent Night, we think of the soldiers singing it in 1914 at the Christmas Truce.
The song’s fundamental message of peace, even in the midst of suffering, has bridged cultures and generations.